Genital herpes from cold sores
Luise Heine has been an editor at since 2012. The qualified biologist studied in Regensburg and Brisbane (Australia) and gained experience as a journalist in television, in the Ratgeber-Verlag and in a print magazine. In addition to her work at , she also writes for children, for example for the Stuttgarter Kinderzeitung, and has her own breakfast blog, “Kuchen zum Frühstück”.
More posts by Luise Heine All content is checked by medical journalists.Cold sores are a constant nuisance for those affected. In more and more people, the virus is not just restricted to the face, but also triggers genital herpes, warns the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO estimates that 67 percent of the population under the age of 50 carry herpes viruses. While herpes simplex is found in 87 percent of people in Africa, 65 out of 100 in Europe carry the virus.
There are basically two subtypes of uninvited guests. Type 1 is the main cause when herpes shows up on the lips or nose. Type 2 prefers the genital area and leads to very painful rashes there. Accordingly, herpes type 1 (HSV1) is mainly passed on through oral contact (smear infection), while herpes type 2 (HSV2) relies on sexual contact to populate the intimate areas of the body. However, according to the WHO, this discriminatory precision is only valid to a limited extent, more and more cases of genital herpes are also going back to type 1 - according to estimates, there are 140 million affected people worldwide. For comparison: In 417 million genital herpes is due to HSV2.
Transmission during oral sex
The number of infections in the genital area with HSV1 is increasing, especially in industrial regions, according to the conclusion of the WHO. The explanation: In Africa almost all those affected get infected before the age of five. In America or Europe, however, this is less and less the case due to better hygiene and living conditions. In America, on the other hand, around half of those affected only become infected between the ages of 15 and 49 - the sexually active age. Accordingly, the first infection with HSV1 in the genital area, for example through oral sex, is more likely.
The first outbreak of the disease in particular is associated with great pain, later episodes are much milder and often remind those affected of a fungal infection or cystitis - but they are still contagious. Education about both forms of herpes and venereal diseases is of great importance, says Dr. Marleen Temmerman from WHO. So if you have a sore lip, you shouldn't let this part of the body be used during sexual intercourse. Otherwise, the following also applies here: (Oral) sex with condoms reduces the likelihood of getting infected.
Not every infection causes symptoms
Because prevention is the only way to protect yourself in the case of herpes: Once you have caught herpes viruses, you will not get rid of them. Most of the time, the viruses slumber in the nerve tracts. But if they become active, the itching, tension and burning starts until the soup vesicles form. However, an infection does not automatically mean that vesicles will develop at some point. For many, the disease never breaks out.
So far, not much can be done against the herpes viruses, except to fight the symptoms - researchers are therefore working flat out on a possible vaccination or antiviral drugs that should prevent the virus from implanting. "At the moment, several possible candidates are being intensively tested in studies," said the WHO. However, they are all still a long way from being ready for the market.
Source: WHO press release: Globally, an estimated two-thirds of the population under 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1; (Accessed November 02, 2015)
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